Can Belize’s Security Apparatus Match Mexican Cartels Weapons?

What about Belize’s ability to match firepower with the Mexican cartels should there be an armed conflict?  According to the top cop, compared to what has been put forward elsewhere on social media, the Belize Defense Force, as well as its local counterparts, is more than capable and can meet the cartels where weapons are concerned.

 

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“Our team remains in place, extremely vigilant and alert and contrary to what… I heard a voice clip which was done by Santiago Castillo that the Belizean security forces are no match to the cartels.  That’s not true.  We are prepared in the event that anything should happen.  This is our country, our people and we will defend our country and our people as best as we can.  There is no time to be in fear of anything or anybody.  I have not gotten any information to indicate that any member of the security forces, whether coast guard, police, or BDF are in fear of anything, no.  No fear at all.”

 

Reporter

“Over time, members of the Belize Police Department have said to me that the weapons they have are no match even for our gangs here and this is before we saw those photographs of what was found on St. George‘s Caye.  Now, Mexican cartels are on a way different level when it comes to weaponry and what they have access to.”

 

Chester Williams

“We have to understand that when we do patrols in urban settings, we don‘t issue big guns.  So don‘t be fooled by the small .38 or nine millimeter you see with the police officers patrolling the urban areas.  When we have officers conducting operations in the jungles or, for example the northern operations where they are doing patrols along the irregular border crossing areas, we don‘t carry nine millimeter or .38.  We have weapons that are equally or more capable than what the enemies may have.”